Goa keen to offer visa-on-arrival to Russian tourists

Goa is one of the most popular travel destinations for many Russians. Source: Alamy

The Indian state’s tourism ministry has put in a suggestion that Russian tourists get a visa on landing at the Dabolim International Airport.

With its
sun-kissed and coconut tree-lined beaches, Goa has always been the most
attractive place for Russian tourists in India. Now the former Portuguese
colony may become even more accessible for those looking to escape the long and
brutal Russian winters.

The tourism ministry of the state of Goa has put a
suggestion with India’s central government that tourists from Russia, along
with those from Germany, France and the Netherlands, should be eligible for
simplified entry-visa procedures and be extended the facility of
visa-on-arrival.

Currently, citizens of 11 countries enjoy the right to
receive visas upon arrival in nine of India’s airports, including Dabolim
International Airport in Goa.

The tourism minister of Goa, Dilip Parulekar, recently
returned from Delhi after attending a meeting of state tourism ministers, where
the idea of extending the visa-on-arrival was discussed. The request was
forwarded to Chiranjeevi, India’s Tourism Minister. “I have requested Union
Minister for Tourism Chiranjeevi to include more countries like Russia,
Germany, France and Netherlands in the list of countries whose citizens can be
granted visa-on-arrival facility,” Parulekar said, adding that such a measure
would give tourism to India a boost.

The United Kingdom is the largest source of foreign tourists
to Goa, followed by Russia.

Parulekar also praised the central government’s decision to
allow organised groups of four or more tourists to obtain entry visas at the
Goa airport, although the move comes with riders: travel operators responsible
for organizing group tours are obliged to guarantee that none of the tourists
break away from the group and that all of them stick to the approved itinerary.

Many Russian tourists spend 3 to 6 months in Goa, often
sending their children to Russian-language kindergartens. Some Russian citizens
even have long-term residence permits for India and have settled in northern
Goa. In May, a honorary Russian consulate was opened in the state.

“Goa is one of the most popular travel destinations for many
Russians, a gateway to incredible India,” Russian ambassador to India Alexander
Kadakin said at a ceremony to mark the opening of the consulate. “Thousands of
my fellow countrymen discovered India starting with the landmarks of Goa. They
bring home warm and happy memories of the hospitality shown them by the
cheerful, welcoming and hard-working people of Goa. We hope the growing flow of
tourists from Russia will contribute to the success of this state.”

Russia also operates honorary consulates in Hyderabad and
Thiruvananthapuram, along with the consulates in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. For
northern India, consular issues are handled by the Consular Department of the
Russian Embassy in New Delhi.

Russia and India have identified tourism and encouragement
of people-to-people as core areas of cooperation. In 2011, the countries
simplified visa formalities for each other’s citizens and this had led to a
increased two-way tourist traffic.